Oddbean

Texas reserves the right to secede. It was part of the agreement made when Texas entered the Union. Many people interpret that agreement as not binding but it is. The documents are in Austin at the Capitol Library. Other states have no language as such. Texas also demanded and received all air space, mineral rights, water rights, and land. That’s why there is almost no BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land in the state. No other state enjoys that latitude. When you go to google to find out whether Texas can secede all you are going to get is ‘no’ even by pundits in Texas but those pundits are simply government boot licking ass clowns. If push comes to shove (and it’s gotta be a massive shove) Texas can and will bail.

I don't believe that is a binding, enforceable provision despite the points you mentioned. Any real attempt for Texas to secede would undoubtedly involve armed conflict with the union; civil war. There are no circumstances in which the USA would simply allow Texas to exit the union and become their own country. The federal government has too many investments, and installations in the state, not to mention taxable individuals. It's just not going to happen.

A secession doesn’t have to be formal. It can be done by just ceasing compliance with federal laws and taxes and adopting Bitcoin for commerce. A military response by the federal government would not only look very bad, but it would also be completely ineffective.

That might be a good movie plot, but it's not reality. Texas trying to secede would an enormous act of sedition that would warrant any and all means to put down. The United States isn't going to just sit back and allow Texas to become its own country because of concern for the optics of enforcement. It would be grounds for civil war, and the death and destruction that would follow would be unprecedented. It's easy to sit back and imagine scenarios in which these secession fantasies would be successful, but it truly is utter nonsense.